READY TO PAY PRICE FOR REFORMS: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he was willing to pay a “big political price” for ushering in systemic changes in the country.

Citing the example of Aadhaar, he said the unique identity number had transformed people’s lives and, in future, it would also work as a “big weapon” in the fight against benami properties.

With his government facing criticism from the Opposition for rolling out a “flawed” goods and services tax (GST), the PM said his government would be undaunted in taking “irreversible” decisions.

“I am aware of the big political price I will have to pay for the steps I have taken, the path I have chosen, and the destination I want to take the country to. But I am ready for it,” he said.

The PM’s comments, at the Leadership Summit, come days before the first phase of polling in Gujarat on December 9.

Modi also asked the media to follow the advice of former president APJ Abdul Kalam and not be the purveyors of negative news. Kalam, Modi said, had once observed that the Indian media was ashamed of the country’s capabilities and accomplishments. In his ‘Mann ki Baat’ broadcast on Sunday, Modi had asked people to welcome the New Year by posting five positive stories of 2017.

The PM criticised the corruption prevalent in the Congress-led UPA government. He listed the achievements of his government, particularly regarding the welfare of the poor. He said his government ensured accident insurance at ~1 a month and life insurance at 90 paise a month for the poor.

The PM said 15 crore people had taken such insurance, and as much as ~1,800 crore had been disbursed in claim money. “Any other government would have been extolled for being a messiah of the poor. Newspaper headlines and round the clock television discussions would have taken place…But I don’t think people have noticed. But I have done this out of conviction, whether someone notices or not,” he said.